Name___________________________________ Date_____________ Class______________
RETEACHING ACTIVITY—ROLE AND POWERS OF CONGRESS—Chp. 5
9
SECTION 1
When deciding how to vote on particular issues, members of Congress must consider
often-conflicting influences. Identify four of these influences, and discuss their
importance.
1. ______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
3. ______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
4. ______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
SECTION 2
Complete the following chart comparing the houses of Congress.
The U.S. Congress
House of Representatives
Senate
No. of Members
Basis of Size
Length of Term
When Elected
Required Age
Citizenship
Legal Residence
Salary
SECTION 3
The following items relate to the powers of Congress established by the Constitution. In the
space provided, write E if the power is an expressed power of Congress, write H if the power
is held only by the House of Representatives, write S if the power is held only by the Senate,
or write D if the power is denied to Congress.
_____ 1. Grant titles of nobility
_____ 2. Punish counterfeiters
_____ 3. Call the national militia
_____ 4. Impeach federal officials
_____ 5. Establish post offices
_____ 6. Establish a system of national courts
_____ 7. Print money
_____ 8. Govern the District of Columbia
_____ 9. Hold trials on impeachment charges
_____10. Pass bills of attainder
_____11. Approve Supreme Court appointments
_____12. Regulate interstate commerce
_____13. Choose vice president under certain circumstances
_____14. Pass ex post facto laws
_____15. Borrow money
_____16. Suspend writ of habeas corpus
_____17. Tax exports
_____18. Approve treaties
_____19. Pass laws violating the Constitution
_____20. Declare war
_____21. Pass laws giving a state an unfair trade advantage
_____22. Collect taxes
_____23. Choose president under certain circumstances
_____24. Spend money without authorized legislation
_____25. Make copyright laws
_____26. Raise and maintain an army
CHAPTER 5
Section 1
1.
2.
3.
4.
Personal beliefs—Congressmembers’ personal opinion about what serves the public good is at their sole
discretion.
Constituents—People who live in the congressmember’s district usually expect that he or she will vote in their
best interest.
Interest groups—These are people who share a common goal. They support legislation favorable to their goals.
Party loyalty—Members of the same party share common beliefs and values and find greater strength voting as a
group.
Section 2
The U.S. Congress
House of Representatives
Senate
435
100
State population
Two from each
state
2 years
6 years
Entire House elected
One third of Senate
every 2 years
elected every 2 years
At least 25 years old
At least 30 years old
U.S. citizen at least
U.S. citizen at least
7 years
9 years
Resident of the state
Resident of the state
where elected
where elected
$145,100
$145,100
Section 3
1. D
2. E
3. E
4. H
5. E
6. E
7. E
8. E
9. S
10. D
11. S
12. E
13. S
14. D
15. E
16. D
17. D
18. S
19. D
20. E
21. D
22. E
23. H
24. D
25. E
26. E